January 27th, 2009 
Sheila Simkin Thea was part of our Annapurna Sanctuary Trek in Nepal and I dare anyone not be daunted by Thea’s prowess and sense of adventure. Thea is in her mid- to late-50′s (sorry, Thea) and can give anyone, man or woman, a run for their money. A widow from Johannesburg, Thea is awe-inspiring and fit to the max both mentally and physically. She is a personal trainer, all-around great athlete, travels the world hiking, mountain biking in competitions, funny, filled with personality and…I hate her! Life is simply not fair to pack all that into one woman…
And, as if life isn’t tough enough around the Johannesburg area, Thea picks up and moves to the Democratic Republic of Congo, one of the poorest and craziest places in the world, to be with a male friend working there. (Of course, a person as vibrant as Thea would have men friends…) Her e-mails, filled with exploits of life in Lubumbashi (the second largest city in the DRC – formerly Zaire), could fill an adventure novel without trying. Here are just a few snippets from Thea’s e-mails…
We battle to have basic things like electricity… have to use a generator…spent the last five days without water…everything is carried on bicycles. This week saw a funeral procession, all walking a coffin on the bicycle saddle…but the procession was very jolly with everyone singing and dancing. These bicycles are tough and people will push them for 130 kilometers through the most rugged roads with about four bags of rice on each weighing 160 kg. It makes your heart bleed to see how hard these poor fellows work to make enough for a meal…
Thea also told about a buffet in one of Lubumbashi’s “better restaurants” where after filling her plate with food, a tomato gravy-mushroom concoction, she felt crunching in her mouth and looked a little closer at the gravy. It was filled with little fat-legged worms and when Thea questioned the waiter, he just smiled and said, “Yes, they are worms.” Eee-wwwww….
The Democratic Republic of Congo is called one of the most corrupt countries in the world but, at least it isn’t violent. According to Thea, most DRC people are afraid to go to South Africa because of the violence there. She keeps in shape by running, riding her mountain bicycle through the bush while mothers scream at their children to come and look at the Mazunga – “white person”, swims with the locals and in her spare time is trying to get donations of borehole pumps to supply clean water for the local schools!
Thea has been in and out of the hospital with various diseases and injuries but nothing stops this indomitable woman, I get exhausted just reading her e-mails and if my adult children think I’m off my rocker, they should meet Thea.
Thea should be an inspiration to us all and is truly “A Gutsy Woman Who Travels”… way to go…Thea
.
Posted in 
Tags: 
Hi Sheila,
As one of Thea’s adult children, I laughed out loud at “if my adult kids think I am off my rocker”, I know how they feel. I have had so many calls about her over the years – your Mum is in hospital with concussion after coming off her bike down some hill – your Mum is being airlifted to Bangkok with Dengue Fever – the list goes on and on!!
But as the years have gone on I have to say that I have got used to her adventures and am so proud of her and her amazing spirit. My daughter (yes Thea is a Granny to 8 lucky grandchildren) loves her Gran and is always talking about going on adventures with her.
The biggest lesson I have learned from my mother is to enjoy life & on her travels I know she has taught many the same lesson.
It was great reading your blog & I will be printing it for my kids, nephews & nieces to read when they are older.
Ryan
Dear Ryan:
Steve and I considered ourselves fortunate to meet Thea in Nepal and laugh our heads off every time a new e-mail arrives from her. She is one of a kind! So very glad you enjoyed the post on her and believe you me, it was difficult to leave out all her exciting and constant adventures. Thanks again for commenting and I only hope my adult children will be able to say the same about me one day. Our adventures are incredibly boring compared to Theas. Best regards,
Sheila
Hi Sheila
As one of the many, many people that know Thea well (I don’t know another person with such a huge circle of friends – cycling friends, gym friends, etc., etc., – I have been her sister-in-law for over thirty yeas) let me join in saying that she is an inspiration to all who know her. Ryan and her other kids are very fortunate to have such a caring, vibrant mum (life was certainly not always quiet in her home though!). Her letters always perk me up and I can picture her clearly in my mind doing all these outrageous things – remember Kili???
Dear Diane:
Thanks for taking the time to comment on the incredible person that Thea is. It was a great pleasure to join her circle for a all to short two weeks and hope our paths cross again in the future.
Best of luck to you.
Sheila